CPP WILL NOT DISINTEGRATE - DELLE

(P. 13) NOVEMBER 10, 2007

Story: Kofi Yeboah
THE Chairman of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Dr Edmund N. Delle, has dismissed assertions in some political circles that the party could break up if certain candidates are not elected in the November 24, 2007, national delegates congress.
He said on the contrary, the CPP was more united than ever and expressed the confidence that the party would come out stronger after the congress.
According to Dr Delle, the CPP was the fastest growing party in the country, adding that “We are definitely now a force to reckon with because many people feel that this is the time for the CPP”.
“So I think it will be suicidal for any member of the CPP to feel that because he did not win the election, he must let this euphoria die”, he told the Daily Graphic in an interview in response to some questions being raised on the unity of the party.
Dr Delle said all the candidates were prepared to lend their maximum support to whoever emerged as the winner in the election to ensure that the reactivation of the party continued and that Ghanaians who had been asking for a change in the country’s political leadership, would really have it this time around.
“We have been in the wilderness for far too long and I do not think that we will allow this timely opportunity pass again. This is the opportunity to strengthen ourselves, unite and to move as one body to ensure victory”, he said.
“I believe that no convinced member of the CPP would want us to go back again to our divided ways. We believe that when CPP is well mobilised, we’ll attract many sympathisers to the party”, he added.
Dr Delle said his confidence in the CPP emerging stronger after the congress was bolstered by the resilience of the foot soldiers and entire membership, who had kept faith with the party through all these difficult times.
He said a CPP government would endeavour to bridge the yawning gap between the south and the north with respect to the country’s development, adding that the welfare of Ghanaians would be the party’s supreme interest.
“I’m sure that we are going to rekindle that hope in those areas where development has eluded them for years. Our philosophy is that we go to those who need more - the disabled and the suffering masses”, he indicated.
Responding to suggestions that he might use his incumbency to advantage, Dr Delle said he had taken a low profile in his campaign, citing the fact that he was the last candidate to file his nomination for the chairmanship position.
He said to the contrary, incumbency had its own disadvantage because while his competitors devoted all their time to campaign, he had an additional responsibility as the chairman, to prepare the party for congress.
Nevertheless, Dr Delle did not waver in confidence that his re-election was a done deal, proclaiming that “history will be made on November 24 because for the first time, CPP will have a chairman running for two terms in office”.
He said there was a level playing field for all the aspirants and the rules of the game, such as non maligning of each other, had been spelt out to all of them.
According to the CPP chairman, so far, there was clear evidence that all the aspirants were doing their campaign with decorum.